Credit: Unsplash+.
After more than a century of conservation efforts, researchers have discovered that the bison in Yellowstone National Park now form a single, large breeding population.
This is a major shift from past studies, which suggested that Yellowstone bison existed as two separate herds.
A team from Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) made this discovery while studying Yellowstone’s bison population.
Their findings, published in the _Journal of Heredity_, suggest that Yellowstone bison should now be managed as one united herd.
**A Conservation Success Story**
Bison once roamed North America in vast numbers, but by the late 1800s, their population was nearly wiped out due to overhunting.
In Yellowstone, only 23 wild bison survived poaching, putting the species at risk of extinction.
In 1902, a few domestic bison from Montana and Texas were introduced to Yellowstone to help rebuild the population. Over time, these efforts led to the thriving bison population we see today.
“Yellowstone bison have overcome one of the biggest conservation challenges in history,” said Dr. James Derr, a professor at Texas A&M. “From just a few dozen survivors, they’ve grown into a stable and genetically healthy population.”
**A Shift in Bison Behavior**
Studies from 20 years ago showed that Yellowstone bison had maintained their historic breeding patterns, meaning they were still divided into two distinct herds.
However, the new research from Texas A&M reveals that the bison now interbreed freely, forming a single genetic population of 4,000 to 6,000 individuals.
“There has been debate among conservationists about how to best protect genetic diversity in Yellowstone bison,” said Dr. Sam Stroupe, a postdoctoral researcher at VMBS. “By analyzing DNA from different breeding groups and winter ranges, we found that these bison now function as one large herd.”
This new understanding is important for conservation and management strategies. Knowing that Yellowstone bison are genetically unified allows experts to make informed decisions to protect their long-term health and stability.
**Looking to the Future**
Yellowstone’s bison remain one of the most iconic symbols of American wildlife. This study provides crucial information to help park officials and conservationists continue to protect and monitor this flagship population of the U.S. national mammal.
“Now that we know Yellowstone bison form a single breeding herd, management decisions can be based on accurate information about their genetic health and population structure,” said Derr.
This remarkable recovery highlights the success of wildlife conservation and serves as an example of how efforts to protect endangered species can lead to long-term survival.